Sports

DCB women's basketball signs five guards for 2012-13 season

By Tyler Ohmann

07/10/2012

The Dakota College at Bottineau Ladyjacks recently announced the signing of five more recruits to their women’s basketball program for the 2012-13 season. Two of the recruits are from area schools.

The first of which is Mackenzie Bickford.
Bickford is a five-foot, four-inch guard who played high school ball at Lamoure.

“We are very pleased to have Mackenzie as a member of the 2012-13 Ladyjacks team,” stated DCB Head Coach Wayne Johnson. “She is a tough, hardworking, intelligent player who will certainly add to the depth at our guard position.”

In her senior season she averaged 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and two steals per game. She also shot 40 percent from beyond the arc and made the All-District 5 team. She was the team’s MVP as well as the captain.

“Mackenzie understands the game and has a reputation as a solid defensive player,” Johnson stated. “Our offense really needs players who can knock down the three point shot and she certainly demonstrated that skill at the high school level.”

Bickford is the daughter of Joel and Vicki Bickford of Bottineau.

The second local recruit is Halle Schumann from Glenburn, N.D.

“Halle is a really good addition to the Ladyjacks team,” Johnson stated. “She is a hard working team player who brings skills we are seeking for our team.”

Schumann is also a five-foot, four-inch guard. She averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and an impressive eight assists per game her senior season in 2012.

“She distributes the ball well and is an excellent three point shooter,” Johnson stated. “Those are qualities we seek in our guard play.”

Schumann is the daughter of Roger and Nancy Schumann of Glenburn.

The Ladyjacks signed three other guards from out of the state to play next season as well.

The first is Taylor Ward out of Brandon, MB, Canada.

Ward is a five-foot, six-inch guard from Elton Collegiate High School. As a senior she averaged 11 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.

“She is a solid ball handler and a good three point shooter,” Johnson stated.

The other two guards hail from Detroit, Mich.
Dominique Staten is a five-foot, four-inch guard who scored 15.2 points, grabbed 3.8 rebound, dished out 4.3 assists and stole 1.6 balls per game.

She was also named tot he “All-Detroit Public School Basketball” second team.

“She brings a good scoring ability and quickness to the Ladyjacks,” Johnson stated.

The other guard from Detroit is the five-foot, six-inch Tiffany Bradford.

Bradford, a teammate of Staten, averaged 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

“Tiffany will be looked upon to give us minutes either at the point or wing,” Johnson stated. “She is a good ball-handler and solid shooter.”

The Ladyjacks went 13-18 on the season last year, falling to Bismarck State in the semifinals of the Region XIII tournament. They had only one sophomore on last year’s team, and return leaders Jackie Miller, Shakira Walker and Jordyn Sondrol.